Isle GOP questions
senator’s ethics

Brian Kanno tried to help
a man fired by a cruise line

Senate Republicans are calling for an ethics investigation into Democratic Sen. Brian Kanno's attempts to help a legislative aide who was fired by Norwegian Cruise Line last year after being accused of sexual harassment.

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The employee, Leon Rouse, had been working this year as an aide for another lawmaker but resigned last week after media reports on Kanno's actions.

Republicans are asking the state Ethics Commission to determine whether Kanno (D, Kalaeloa-Makakilo) abused his legislative authority by asking fellow lawmakers to sign a letter of support for Rouse, and later getting resolutions introduced that could be perceived as trying to intimidate Norwegian.

The resolutions would have directed the state Tax Department to assess whether the cruise line should have to pay the state's hotel room tax. The resolutions never advanced.

Kanno, chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, said if the commission investigates, he will cooperate fully.

"I believe that the issue at hand is really about the appropriate role of a legislator," he said in a written statement last night. "In my 12 years of serving the people of my district and of the state, I have always believed that constituent service is important for all elected officials. When someone contacts my office for help, we have and will continue to look at what is the proper and appropriate way to help."

Rouse contends his firing last summer was unjust because he was not allowed to face his accusers.